Score Salon:
Steve Allen on Copland's Appalachian Spring

February 11, 2002 at Bad Animals

SCA President Steve Allen moderated a discussion on Copland's Appalachian Spring (1943-44).

Written while Copland was working in Hollywood on one of his many movie scores, this Americana classic originated as a commission to write a ballet for Martha Graham. It was begun in 1943, scored for 13 instruments, and completed the following year while Aaron was teaching at Harvard.

The story, set in the early 19th century, tells of the preparations for a wedding in a Pennsylvania farming community. The music reflects the folk-songs of the Appalachians, and quotes the Shaker song "Simple Gifts," on which the composer writes a sequence of variations.

The following year, in 1944, Copland wrote an expanded suite of the piece for full orchestra, which eventually won the Pulitzer Prize for music in 1945.

Steve discussed the popular suite version of the piece for full orchestra.

Capitol Music Center is the official sponsor of the SCA Monthly Score Salon.

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